Power Limitation
These are Power or Torque Limitation Indicator symbols and are used exclusively in electric and hybrid vehicles. The images, which may be seen in yellow/amber or red, have several possible meanings, depending on the manufacturer. The use of the image of a turtle alone or embedded in a circle or the battery with an exclamation point tells the driver what he or she may already know: that the vehicle is less responsive than expected – its power has been reduced. However, its speed may not be affected at all, only its ability to accelerate. There are two additional symbols below.
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European manufacturers use an yellow/amber image when the electric power is in reserve range. Power to the traction motor, and thus the drive wheels, is restricted when the vehicle sees the range drop to four miles or less.
In the Far East, this symbol is used also in yellow/amber to indicate that power has been reduced due to a fault. It can be driven but will need the attention of your dealer or authorized service center for repair as soon as possible.
Illuminated in red in a Hybrid, the symbol generally means that the vehicle is out of gas and only running on the high voltage battery. All a driver needs to do is to find a gas station and fill up, quickly. The hybrid’s high voltage battery will not go far in most cases.
More Versions
One manufacturer uses these two images to indicate reduced power due to weather or temperature conditions. The first, in blue, notes that power is reduced because of cold drive train conditions. The light may go out as the drive train warms up even if the outside temperature does not rise. The icon will be seen in gray scale when the drive system temperature is high, possibly due to sustained or high power demand when driving on mountain roads, for example.
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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.
These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.
Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.
The author has 25 years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph’s College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY